# Risk factors for the development of macular edema in children with uveitis

## TL;DR

The study identifies risk factors for macular edema in children with uveitis, emphasizing the importance of close monitoring for early detection.

## Contribution

The study identifies non-anterior uveitis and vision impairment as independent risk factors for macular edema in pediatric uveitis patients.

## Key findings

- Non-anterior uveitis and vision impairment are significant independent risk factors for macular edema.
- Complications like band keratopathy and posterior synechiae are associated with increased risk of macular edema.
- Macular edema occurred in 23.9% of eyes over an average of 15.3 months.

## Abstract

To determine the risk factors for macular edema (ME) in children with uveitis.

A retrospective study was conducted of 150 pediatric patients (264 eyes) with uveitis attending 2 tertiary medical centers. Data were collected from the medical files on demographics, type of uveitis, etiology, clinical findings, treatment, and time to development of ME. Risk factors for the development of ME were identified.

ME developed in 63 eyes (23.9%) over a mean period of 15.3 ± 2.95 months from diagnosis of uveitis, at a rate of 0.08 eyes per eye-year. On univariate analysis, risk factors for the development of ME were the non-anterior location of the inflammation (p=0.002), band keratopathy (p <0.0001), posterior synechiae (p=0.003), cataract (p=0.002), and vision impairment at presentation (p <0.0001). On multivariate analysis, non-anterior uveitis, which includes intermediate, pan, and posterior-uveitis, and vision impairment retained significance as independent risk factors of ME.

Within the pediatric population with uveitis, non-anterior location is associated with the highest risk of ME, followed by the presence of complications, such as band keratopathy and posterior synechiae. These findings indicate a need for close follow-up in children with uveitis for early detection of ME.